Stardate 2015.482

Day One RtR

Ancient Stone

Hi girls and boys! Snowcatcher and I just returned from a 7-day, 464-mile bike ride across Colorado. This was the 30th anniversary of Ride the Rockies (RtR); a fully supported tour through mountainous regions of the state. This was my 5th and Snowcatcher’s 6th RtR. This year’s west to east route snaked through central and south central Colorado; visiting the cities and towns of Grand Junction, Hotchkiss, Gunnison, Crested Butte, Salida, Cañon City and Westcliffe.



The Tour began with a classic loop ride out of Grand Junction. The route scaled the beautiful sandstone cliffs of Colorado National Monument and returned via the fertile farmlands connecting the hamlet of Fruita (the mountain biking mecca) with Grand Junction. The steep but not overly long climb up to the Monument's Rim Rock Drive gave riders a chance to get their legs under them before a grueling Day Two. Grand Junction being my home town, I was excited to tackle the Monument again. Bias aside, I think it’s one of the best road rides around. Enjoy!



Our day began nestled on the grass outside of Wubben Hall, Colorado Mesa University. Growing like an endearing weed, the school was formerly known as Mesa State College.



The first water station was on top of the Monument at Cold Shivers Point, adjacent to Columbus Canyon. At this point, most of the hard climbing is finished.



It’s been a cool, wet spring and many wildflowers are still in bloom. It’s not uncommon to have triple-digit temperatures by now.



Above is a 6-minute video of riding through a piñon juniper forest adjacent to Ute Canyon during Ride the Rockies.



Snowcatcher refuels at the Liberty Cap aid station.



Monument Canyon pulls at the senses.



Above video features a 6-minute segment of Rim Rock Drive adjacent to Monument Canyon during Ride the Rockies.



Sinuous Rim Rock Drive is about as good as it gets. It's a hoot!!

Stats:
49.8 miles
4:18:05 ride time
2,120 feet total ride elevation gain
1,200 feet elevation gain Monument entrance to Cold Shivers Point

See ya on Day Two!

Adios

Stardate 2015.000

Happy 2015

Snowcatcher and I just returned from spending Christmas in my hometown of Grand Junction, Colorado. The landscape is a high desert, pinon/juniper ecosystem thriving amongst colorful sandstone canyons, escarpments, plateaus and mesas. A jewel of the area is the Colorado National Monument for its ease of access to stunning red rock vistas and the scenic Rim Rock Drive across the top.

Since my blog is heavily biased toward two-wheeled antics, it's no surprise I begin with some biking history. The defunct Coors Classic of the 1970s and '80s, was a popular annual fixture on the Monument. The Monument's Coors Classic stage was referred to as The Tour of the Moon because of its exotic, lunar-type landscape. Moreover, a portion of the cult cycling movie American Flyers was filmed here. More recent, Colorado's USA Pro Cycling Challenge has three times been denied a Monument stage by park powers that be. I think the Park Service views the area as a personal fiefdom and puts aside who actually owns the place. Rant complete.

The Monument, in my opinion, is one of the finest road bike rides around. A quick loop over the top is about 45 miles. A ride over the top, then east along the Grand Valley into the orchards and vineyards of Palisade and East Orchard Mesa, will yield a magical ride between 80 and 100 miles, depending on route. Thus, we packed our road bikes and were anticipating a quest over the top of the Monument. However, Mother Nature had other plans – fresh SNOW! No big deal; winter is extremely magical here. I hope the following pics capture winter's mystique in canyon country.



Hmmmm... Perhaps the snow is exposing a potential down-climb through the cliff-band.



Millions of years of erosion developed the personality of Upper Monument Canyon. In the background, the Grand Mesa rises more than 10,000 feet in elevation. Remnants of an ancient volcano, it also is one of the largest plateaus in the United States.



Coke Ovens




Frosted cacti



Headwall of Columbus Canyon



The lower reach of one of my favorite hikes, No Thoroughfare Canyon.



Prickly pear cactus



A colony of lichen-covered sandstone patiently awaits warmer temps. I kind of felt for this delicate community because it faces north, brrrrrrr...



Diurnal melt-water slowly fills an Indian well.

Adios